Joseph w



(No Model.)

J. W. PARKER. FASTENER FOR FLEXIBLE MATERIALS.

No. 307,867. Patented Nov. 11,1884.

WITNESSES: 2 y T a INVENgJR I I BY Wm M? I ATTORNEY NITEDD STATES ATENT Price.

JOSEPH WV. PARKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FASTENER FOR FLEXIBLE MATERIALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,867, dated November 11, 1884.

. Application filed April 1-2, 1884.

(No model.)

and materials, and especially to that class of such fastenings in which a series of eyelets or staple-form devices are caused to protrude through another series of eyelets,and a straight cord is passed through the former.

The said invention consists,part1y,in the peculiar construction of the staple-form eyelets, partly in that of the eyelets through which the staple-form eyelets pass, and partly in the combination of these two series of eyelets with one another and with the-cord passed through, as stated.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 representstwo flaps of material heldtogether bymy fastening devices. Fig. 2 represents the same separated, with the cord-lacing across. Fig. 3 represents a detail view of a staple-form eyelet having flie staple part in one piece with the base, or rigidly secured thereto at both ends. Fig. 4 represents a detail view of a staple-form eyelet having the staple part formed of two bent bars,attached at their lower ends to the base and hooking together above. Fig. 5 represents a detail view of a staple-form eyelet having only one end of the stapleattached to the base. Fig. 6 represents a detail view of the eyelet shown in Fig. 3 with the fastening-grommet clamped into it to hold it to the flap of material. Fig. 7 represents a detail view of one of the four-lobed eyelets attached to the other flap. Fig. 8 represents another form of said eyelet. Fig. 9 represents a rear perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 7

In the said drawings, A designates one flap or piece of flexible material, and B another flap or piece thereof, the latter overlapping the former when the parts are brought together for fastening. To the former flap are attached a series of eyelets, 0, each of which is provided with a raised ring or staple-formed thereof.

part, 0, constituting the eyelet proper, and also with abase or plate, Ofiwhioh rests against the outer face of the flap A,as well as a part,

0, which extends through said flap. This k part 0 may simply be upset by clamping against the rear or under side of flap A; or an encircling flange or grommet, C, may be employed in connection therewith.

D designates the eyelets attached to the overlapping fiap B. Each of these consists of a face-plate provided with four lobes, (Z, and a rearwardly-extending wall, D, which follows the line of the inner opening hereinafter described, and is adapted to be upset for clamp ing the eyelet to the flap. In said front plate there is an irregular opening consisting of an oblong transverse slot, E, and two wings or spaces, F, extending at right angles thereto. The staples or raised eyelets G are normally extended through slot E, and a cord, G, as shown in Fig. 1, is then passed longitudinally through the straight series and tied or otherwise secured above the same or at one end A knot or acorn, g, is formed in said string or cord G beyond the other end of said series, to prevent that end of the string from being drawn through said staples or eyelets. The cord or string G is of course sufficiently long to allow the flaps to separate, as shown in Fig. 2; but thislength need not greatly exceed that of the series of staples, provided one part of said cord is made of elastic material, as shown at g, and the remainder of inelastic material, as shown at 9'. hen the flaps A and B are to be on fastened from one another for instance, for removing a. shoe or a glove the said flaps are simply pulled away from one another, and the eyelets G and D of the respective' series separate, the cord yielding and drawing through the eyelets D, so as to take tlie'zigzag position shown in Fig. 2. By pulling on the cord the reverse action is caused, and the eyelets G are made once more to protrude through the eylets D. The inner edges of all the eyelets are rounded to prevent friction, and the openings or slots F allow the cord to have sufficient play to prevent binding.

The shape and construction of the eyelets may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Thus the stapleform eyelets may have the staple part or eyelet proper attached to thebase at both ends, as shown in Fig. 3; or it may be attached to said base at one end and bent so as nearly to touch said base at the other end, as shown in Fig. 5, said staple being made sufficiently stiff to bear the strain; or it may be formed of two pieces, one of which has its upper end provided with a hook, and the other having its corresponding end provided with an eye, and both being interlocked to complete the staple. The other eyelet may also have an enlarged circular opening, as shown in Fig. 8, instead of the irregular one shown in Fig. 7. 7

An eyelet provided with a raised stapleform part, consisting of .two arms which are loosely attached to the base and interlock at a point opposite the middle thereof, has an advantage over the other forms of eyelets shown, in allowing the separation of said arms and the consequent opening of the eyelet when desired. With this form of eyelet the cord need not be passed through staples or eyes or under hooks, but may be laid on the bases of the upright eyelets, the arms being then joined so as to form the staples or raised parts of the eyelets above the cord.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A sheet-metal eyelet provided with a raised staple-form part consisting of two inspread to hold the eyelet thereto, substantially as set forth.

2. An eyelet having a transverse slot and openings at right angles thereto and communieating therewith.

3. A series of staple-form eyelets on one flap or piece of material, in combination with another series of eyelets, each of which is provided with a slot and openings at the sides of said slot, and a cord passed through said staple-form eyelets as they protrude from said slots, substantially as set forth.

4. An eyelet provided with a front plate having four lobes and a slot and openings, and a rearwardly-extending part adapted to be passed through the flap and fastened behind it by upsetting, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOS. \V. PARKER.

\Vitnesses WM. H. BABCOCK, V. R. HAIGH'I. 

